Seasonal color analysis explained

Seasonal color analysis groups colors that may harmonize with a person's visible coloring. The four-season model is a starting framework, not a scientific diagnosis or a rulebook. Modern systems often divide each family into sub-seasons for more nuance.

The dimensions behind the seasons

Temperature

Warm palettes lean toward yellow, golden, peach, and earthy undertones. Cool palettes lean toward blue, rose, berry, and icy qualities. Many people are relatively neutral, so temperature may not be the strongest dimension.

Value

Value describes lightness and depth. Some coloring is supported by airy, pale shades; other coloring handles rich, dark colors with ease.

Chroma

Chroma describes brightness versus softness. Clear colors have more intensity; muted colors feel grayer, smoky, dusty, or blended.

Contrast

Contrast is the visual distance between features such as hair, skin, and eyes. High-contrast combinations may echo strong natural contrast, while blended combinations may suit lower contrast.

The four broad families

• Spring: generally warm, fresh, and clear to light.
• Summer: generally cool, soft, and light to medium.
• Autumn: generally warm, muted, and medium to deep.
• Winter: generally cool, clear, and high-contrast or deep.

How Chroma helps

Chroma analyzes a selfie and suggests a seasonal direction with palette colors. The result includes visible attributes that help explain the match. You can then compare clothes and makeup with your season, which is more useful than memorizing a category name.